Starting Over In Any Moment

In this moment, I’m sitting at a little restaurant by our house. The walk here was so cold that I had to tuck my head into my jacket up to my eyes, dig my hands deep into my pockets and go as fast as I could. I made the trek though, without hesitation, just for a chance to get away from the house.

I’ve always loved the start of the New Year as a way of getting centered and dreaming but this year was different. The first came and went and I found myself feeling more in a funk than I ever have. I was fueling my body with sugar (Ben & Jerrys for dinner, I’m not even kidding) and staying up super late (what do you think happens when you eat Ben & Jerrys for dinner?), waking up early with the boys and dragging.

I couldn’t pick up a camera. I couldn’t finish a sentence. I just sat and doodled in between the rushes of being mom. Honestly, it was my sketchbook and my short workouts that pulled me through. A few days before the month ended, I decided enough was enough and I cut the sugar. I had a headache for 2 straight days.

I came out of that fog a new person. Seriously, a new person! Now, I’m sleeping way better which makes everything in my day better (I can write again!) and now I’m looking hard at 2022.

What should we do?
What can I do this year, with intention?

The word I keep coming back to is FOCUS.

To be honest, I’m so damn over the busyness. The scroll. I deleted Twitter permanently. TikTok permanently. I’m toying with the idea of being done with Facebook for good too.

Although I’ve always loved Instagram, I’ve been a bit disenchanted with it recently. It’s been hard for me to find the inspiration to post. Maybe it’s just a season? My people are there and I love the IG art world.. so it might have to be a pause and come back refreshed.

All I know is I am craving focus. Focus on my boys, my art (photography) and my blog.

I swear, all of this is a never ending process . I try. I fail. I think again. I try again.

So here’s to starting over in any moment and focusing on what is most important to you.

- Elyse’

“Missplaced”

Analog Collage
6x6, 2022

How to Create Through The Chaos | Take + Make Time

It’s 7:08am — I’m helping my insistent toddler pick out the edges of the puzzle he’s going to attempt before breakfast. My little guy just yelled to me from the bathroom that he needs a wipe. Finn pup is standing behind me whimpering because he is ready to be fed. After I pour food in his bowl, I turn around to review my heavily packed calendar on the fridge. Then my mind drifts…

Is it possible to create through the chaos?

I’ve been thinking about this question a lot lately.

I’m always on the move and my mind, well — it runs. It runs like A/C on a sweltering day in July.

Creation, for me, has always happened during quiet moments. Focused moments. Moments of solitude where I have time, space and good music playing softly in the background.

So when this summer took off, my creative practice got the back burner. With the boys no longer napping and both of them going to bed later each night, time to create felt like a thing of the past. I got so frustrated waiting for quiet that I was forced to find another way.

So, is it possible to create through the chaos?

YES. YES, it is. This blog post is proof — but it takes a bit of discipline to do so.

Here’s two things that have been working for me:
1. Simplify
2. Take (and make) what you can get

Simplify

I’ve always wanted to do it all. Create collage, shoot photography, edit those photos, read a million books at once, write blogs and so on.
In order to get anything done, simplicity is necessary. Choosing one thing to focus on really helps me.
I also frequently remove tasks that don’t fit my vision. Sometimes when I shoot photography I’ll choose two photos to edit out of 50 that I’ve taken. Is it hard to pick only two? Incredibly hard but that’s the art of it. You have to be able to cull your tasks like you are culling photos.
Go with your gut and be confident in your decision.

Take (and make) what you can get

Secondly, you have to take and make time. This part was the hardest for me because, like I said above, I like to be sitting at my desk in a quiet room with music on to make stuff. That’s just not realistic for me right now and I’ve been pushing myself to do the best with what I have.

The discipline comes when you’re tempted to reach for your phone but pick up your sketchbook instead. It’s keeping a notebook handy when you’re playing at the park with your kids to jot down a good blog post idea. It’s writing during the 20 minutes between getting home and starting dinner. Taking time during small moments in the day to generate and spark ideas.

Now, after you go through your day taking little pockets of time to create, what do you do with it all? This is were you have to make time. For me, that looks like setting my alarm for 5am. This is my biggest secret!

Rising at 5am has been the game changer. It gives me time to sit with all of the puzzle pieces I’ve collected during the day and put them together.
I get a workout in, read a bit, finish blogs and even make art!

I’ve realized there are just too many demands during the day and if I rise at 5am I have about and hour and a half to myself before the sound of little feet come running down the stairs.

You are worth it! XO

Oh, The Magic You Hold

2020 in 36 Photos / H O M E

Blink. Another 365 days have passed. What a freaking year.

It’s wild to look back (2018, 2019) and see how much things have changed, how different things have been and the memories. I cherish this.

I’m learning with this project that challenge and joy will be weaved in every month and every year for as long as I’m lucky enough to walk this earth.

2020 hasn’t been any different. The longest year at times and yet here we are, the end of December. I’m looking toward 2021 with stars in my eyes, hoping that it’s filled to the brim with family.

As we’ve known all along, it’s what’s most important.

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Inhale. Exhale.

Bring on 2021. We’re ready!

BAD APPLES - Analog Collage Collection

Society puts a lot of pressure on women to be a certain way. In ‘Bad Apples,’ the analog collage series, I work to shatter the negativity associated with choosing a different path. Using paper, old book pages and glue — I create art that proudly tells a different story.

This collection reminds us that there’s beauty in who you are, no matter what you’re told to be.
It represents freedom, femininity, equality and yes, a bit of magic.

On the Road & In Flight are a part of the first collage show with PxP Contemporary. You can purchase either of those straight from their website. The remaining 11 pieces are for sale right on my website. You can shop both by clicking on the buttons below.

Thank you so so much for being here and checking out my work. I appreciate you!

On the Road, Original Collage
8x10, 2020

Available for purchase on PxP Contemporary

In Flight, Original Collage
8x10, 2020

Available for purchase on PxP Contemporary

Believe It, Original Collage
6x6, 2020

Electric, Original Collage
6x6, 2020

Skin, Original Collage
8x10, 2020

Out, Original Collage
6x6, 2020

Pieces, Original Collage
6x6, 2020

Feel It, Original Collage
6x6, 2020

Held, Original Collage
8x10, 2020

Storm, Original Collage
6x9, 2020

Solitude, Original Collage
6x9, 2020

No, Thank You, Original Collage
5x7, 2020

Taller, Original Collage
5x7, 2020

The One Thing I Need To Do Each Night

As most of you know I started participating in the 5am club about a month ago and I really, really love it.

It provides me with time to move my body and stimulate my mind before I begin the day of demanding children and to-do lists.

The schedule looks something like this:

• 20 minutes of morning pages (writing)

• 20 minutes of Yoga

• 20 minutes of reading

I’ve been on a pretty good morning roll and the reason starts long before my alarm goes off.

In fact, it’s because of what I do at night before bed that I’m successful in the morning.

The only way I’ve found, to guarantee my success is to: PREPARE. PREPARE. PREPARE.

Before bed, I lay out my Yoga mat, fill my water bottle, flip my notebook to a fresh page, get my pen ready, put my book pile on the arm of the couch and set my alarm.

When I do all of those things the night before, I get up at 5am.

When I don’t do those things the night before, I “sleep in”.

100% of the time.

Really, when I think about it… anything I’ve ever gotten done that I’ve wanted to do has come from planning and preparing.

So now I ask you this:

What do you want to start? What do you want to accomplish?

How can you make a plan that guarantees your success?

Lastly, I have to make sure I point out that I’m far from perfect. I’ve been choosing to not set an alarm on Sunday because sometimes it just feels good to not. If I’m up late working on something, I’ll set my alarm for 5:15am or even 5:30am. I do the best I can and if I start to veer off track my goal is to always pull myself back on as soon as possible because I’m worth it.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on any and all of this!
Comment below or DM me on IG!

No Poo Concluded

One month ago I stopped washing my hair with shampoo.

Last month I read about the ‘No Poo’ method. The underground movement to stop damaging our hair by washing it with harsh shampoo everyday.

It seemed interesting and it made sense and since we weren’t leaving the house anytime soon I decided to give it a try.

If you’re wondering what the heck I’m talking about, you can read all about it here: The No Poo Method

It’s been 4 weeks since I’ve used shampoo —and I’m loving it.

I have to be honest with you, my favorite part is the time I save shampooing and conditioning every time I shower. Hands down, that’s the best. This hair is big and thick hey.

Secondly, with a little baking soda and apple cider vinegar once a week it’s really feeling healthier than it’s ever felt.

But who am I to say, why don’t you give it a try! And if you do, let me know! I’d love to hear about your experience.

So far, for the ladies I know that’ve tried it: three love it, one’s still deciding and one was a big old hell no come day four.

I can’t imagine that I’ll never wash my hair again, but for the time being this works and it’s been a fun experiment!

Week Two

MORNING PAGES - A Practice Worth Starting

I’ve been promising a post on morning pages for a good month now. When my pen ran out of ink this morning as I was scribbling away in the faint light coming from my closet, I knew it was time.

I grabbed a new pen, and in my notebook, this post wrote itself.

That’s the magic of Morning Pages.

So what exactly are Morning Pages?

Morning pages, a beloved ritual of creatives all over the world, is from the book The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron.
Upon waking in the morning, you grab your notebook and pen and you write. And write. And write.
It’s a stream if conciousness filling three whole pages.
You pretty much let whatever you think/feel come to the surface and snatch it up, it and write it down.
It doesn’t need to be poetic or artsy or even mean anything.
You can write about your week, why you’re pissed off or a wild dream you have for the future. You can write a to-do list, a rant on your president or all of the magic that has touched your life to this moment.
As long as your clearing out all of the junk from your mind, you’re doing it right.

Trust me, when the kids were waking me up, fussing, at 4:30am each morning I wasn’t writing anything positive for the entire first page. But it was a good way to get it out and I really did feel better starting the day.

Lately, The boys have been sleeping in a bit and I’m up before the house. With my hubby so cutely sleeping next to me, that half hour of writing is truly one of the most peaceful, productive and creative, parts of my entire day.

Do I need to do them in the morning?

Cameron says that morning is best (because you can access your subconscious right as you wake), however you can do them anytime. I was just listening to a podcast and the host said she did hers midday. I’ve tried it and if you have kids I don’t recommend it. LOL

I have done them at night a couple times and felt really good about them. I’ve even started them in morning and finished at night which is probably not what you’re supposed to do but anything to get them done and keep me going.

What if I can’t think of anything to write?

Well, for me, I never run out of things to write, maybe it’s connected to the fact that I never run out of things to say, either! LOL Sometimes you pause but man, trust me, things come up. Allow them up. Allow them out.
You must fill three pages. If you’ve never done them before, you’re going to be so surprised!

Alright, I think that’s what I have to say about your morning pages so don’t wait! Grab a good notebook, your favorite pen, write the date and place it next to your bed.

If you can somehow make the extra 30 minutes, I promise you it’ll be worth it!!

If I missed anything, drop a question in the comments or better yet, grab The Artist’s Way and make your way through it with me!

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